Container with plural pour spouts and frangible closure



Oct. 29, 1968 ZENSHOYHOMMA 3,407,976

CONTAINER WITH PLURAL POUR SPOUTS' AND FRANGIQBLE CLOSURE I Filed May 24, 1 966 3 Sheets-She? l v F nal w mvmon I ZEIVSHO mum mat.

, Arman/5 Oct. 29, 1968 ZEN H 3,407,976

CONTAINER WITH PLURAL POUR SPOUTS AND FRANGIBLE CLOSURE Filed May 24, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F mvlzmom zswsno' mum BY Oct. 29, 1968 ZENSHO HOMMA 3,407,976

CONTAINER WITH PLURAL POUR SPOUTS AND FRANGIBLE CLOSURE Filed May 24, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F G.- |O Q INVENTOR- zewsuo #06014 v ATTORNEKS'.

United States Patent 07 3,407,976 CONTAINER WITH PLURAL POUR SPOUTS AND FRANGIBLE CLOSURE Zensho Homma, Shinba-cho 1188, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Filed May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 552,466 Claims priority, application Japan, May 25, 1965, 40/ 30,546; May 27, 1965, 40/30,961, 40/ 30,962 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-485) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sealed container is disclosed including a threaded closure engaged on a threaded neck, the threaded closure including an annular rim spaced axially inwardly from the inner end of the closure and connected tothe inner end of the closure by frangible means. This annular rim is formed with at least one ratchet tooth on its inner periphery cooperable with at least one ratchet tooth formed on the exterior of the threaded neck of the container and inwardly of the threads on the neck. The ratchet teeth are so interrelated that the closure may be threaded onto the neck of the container with the teeth slipping over each other but, upon reverse rotation of the closure to open the container, the teeth will interengage to prevent rotation of the annular rim. This will break the frangible connections of the rim to the inner end of the closure, thus indicating that the container has been opened after sealing.

A novel double pour spout is also disclosed, including a portion fitting into the neck of the container and having oppositely directed spouts with outlet or discharge ends which, when the closure is screwed onto the neck of the container, have sealing engagement with the inner surface of the closure.

This invention relates to sealed containers and, more particularly, to a novel sealed container having a novel sealing lid or cover construction.

It is frequently desirable to seal a closed container in such a manner that the contents cannot be removed therefrom without breaking a seal and in such a manner that the container cannot be refilled and re-sealed. As previously effected, such closing and sealing has been a two-step operation. For example, a lid, such as a screwtype lid, has been screwed onto the threaded neck of the container and then a seal has been wrapped around the neck and the lid. The seal may be made, for example, of thin metal, plastic composition material, paper or the like.

There are several methods of applying such a metal plastic or paper seal around the neck and cover of a container which is to be sealed. One method is to provide a completely impervious seal of metal, paper or plastic around the cover and the neck of the container. In another method, the applied seal has had a line of perforations extending therearound whereby, when the cover is twisted with sufficient force in an unscrewing direction, the seal will separate intermediate its end. However, both of these methods have, as stated, required a two-step operation for the closing and sealing of the container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sealed container which can be closed and sealed in a onestep operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container which can be closed and sealed in a simple and inexpensive manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container having a cap screwed onto a neck thereof and in which the screwing of the cap onto the neck 3,407,976 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 ICC automatically effects sealing of the container and unscrewing of the cap from the neck automatically breaks the seal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container including an externally threaded filling neck and a cap screwed onto said neck, with the neck and the cap being provided with cooperating formations, whereby the cap may be readily and easily threaded onto the neck but may be unthreaded therefrom only with the exercise of a considerable torque.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container having a threaded neck and a threaded cap, with the cap having a portion provided with at least one ratchet tooth which cooperates with a similar ratchet tooth on the neck to provide for ready threading of the cap onto the neck, while resisting unthreading of the cap from the neck.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container including a threaded filling neck and a threaded cap in which the cap is provided with a rim connected thereto by frangible means, this rim and the neck of the container being provided with cooperating formations whereby the cap may be readily threaded into sealing relation over the neck but may be unthreaded from the neck only by exerting a turning torque sufficient to break the frangible connections.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel sealed container including a threaded neck receiving a threaded cap, this neck having fitted therein a novel pouring spout having tapered spout ends which tightly engage a tapered inner surface of the cap when the latter is screwed into sealing relation on the neck of the container.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, of one form of sealed container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the container of FIG. 1, taken at substantially to the direction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1, partly in section;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line XX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line Y-Y of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of another form of sealed container embodying the invention, showing the cover removed in full lines and the cover sealed to the container in dotted lines;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the sealed container shown in FIG. 6, with the cover sealed thereto;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8,.of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of still another form of sealed container embodying the invention;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the sealed container shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the sealed container comprises a cover or lid 1 which is blow-molded or press-molded of synthetic resin or plastic composition material having a suitable elasticity. The interior of cover or lid 1 is formed with a frusto-conical or tapered surface portion 2 adja- 1", LA. V ""T cent-the outer end of thelid, 3' intermediate its ends. The did or cover 1 is arranged to be screwed onto the threaded neck 9 of the container -bQdy.4.-. i The container body 4 may be formedof a'molded plastic synthetic resin composition having'a suitable elasticity or may be a metal can having a molded plastic synthetic resin compositionneck 9 inserted into its upperend. For the purpose of receiving cap 1, the neck 9 is formed with external threads 10. Furthermore, and for purposes to be described more fully hereinafter, theneck 9 has a projection 8 which has the general shape of a ratchet tooth.

A double pouring spout 3 having. a central passage 12 and with an internal thread is secured in neck 9, as by being formed with an annular rib 14 having a snap-fit in an annular groove 13 in the inner surface defining'the neck passagell. Spout 3 is formed with a pair of discharge spouts which have their outer end edges 13. suitably bevelled to have mating engagement with the tapered or frusto-conical surface por- 5. The inner peripheral surface of rim 6 is formed with a projection 7, preferably in the form of a ratchet tooth,

,which, is interengageable with the projection or tooth 8 on neck 9, and which has a configuration such that it will slip over the tooth 8 when lid 1 is screwed downwardly along neck 9 but will lock behind tooth 9 to prevent reverse rotation of lid or cover 1 until sutficient force is exerted to break thefrangible connections 5.

After container body 4 has been filled to the desired level, lid or cover 1 is applied thereto by screwing downwardly along neck 9. As the lid 1 is screwed down along vneck 9, the rim 6 will come into alignment with the pro- "jection 8 on neck 9. However, due to the interrelation of the teeth 7 and 8, as best seen in FIG. 5, clockwise rotation of lid 5, as will occur in screwing the lid onto neck 9, will allow the tooth or teeth 7 to slip over the tooth or projection 8, particularly due to the flexibility or elasticity of the material of lid or cover 1. The screw- -ing on of lid 1 is continued until such time as the tapered inner surface -2 thereof is in sealing relation with the 'bevelledends 13 of the two spouts of double spout member 3, such screwing on of Ed 1 forcing the spout mernber3 into firm sealing engagement with neck 9. Thus, -the container body 4 is closed and sealed ina single or one-step operation, which results in a great simplification of the closing and sealing operation as compared to the Itwo step closing and sealing operation heretofore found necessary.

When it is desired to discharge the contents of container body 4, lid or cover 1 is rOtatedcounterclOckWise to. move upwardly along neck 9. Such: counterclockwise rotation of lid.1 is inhibited by engagement of tooth or teeth 7 with tooth or projection ,8 until sufficient torque is applied to lid 1 to break the frangible connections 5.

Thereaften'lid 1 may be readily unscrewedfrom neck 9,

and, after the lid is removed, the rim 6 can be easily withdrawn outwardly over neck 9.

The spout member 3 may be readily assembled to containerbody 4- by placing it slightly into neck 9 and then placing lid 1 over the spout member and screwing lid 1 3 inwardly along the pouring passage 11 of neck 9 until rib 14 snaps into groove 15.The spout member 3 remains interlocked in the neck 9 when lid 1' is unscrewed from the neck. The spout member 3 is completely affixed to container body 4 only by screwing lid 1 ontothe container body, and is sealed perfectly to the container body so that there will be no leakage of contents from the spout menidownwardly along neck 9." This forces the spout member 7 her due to the interengagement between the bevelled ends 13 of the two spouts and the tapered or frusto-conical inner surface portion 2 of lid or cover 1. By virtue of the one-step closing and sealing operation possible with the sealed container shown in FlGS 1 through 5 production operations are greatly facilitated as compared to the twostep closing and sealing procedure hitherto required.

The embodiment of'the invention shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 differs in only minor particulars from that shownin FIGS. 1 through} and thereforecorresponding or identical parts'havebeen given the same reference characters primed.;

In the sealed container shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, the spout member'3 is ornitted'Instead, the cover 1' is formed with an annular groove 16 in the inner surface of its closed outer end, and this annular groove has a tight conforming fit with the upper edge 17 of the container 4 when lid or cover 1 is screwed down tightly along neck 9""of container 4. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through -'5,'clockwise rotation of the cover 1' in'a closing and sealing direction is provided by virtue of the tooth or teeth 7' sliding over the projection or tooth 8', and the interenga gement of teeth 7 and 8' prevents rotation of the" cover in an opening direction until sufficient torque is exerted to 'break'the frangible connections or frangible supports 5' interconnecting lid 1' and rim 6'.

The sealed container shown in FIGS. 10 through 13 corresponds in most respects to that shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 and, accordingly, corresponding or identical parts have been indicated with the same reference character double primed. The sole dilference between the embodiment of FIGS. 10 through 13 and that of FIGS. 6 through 9 is that rim 6 is formed with a series of ratchet teeth 18 cooperable with the ratchet tooth or projection 8" on neck 9" of container 4". Thus, as compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 through 9, the embodiment of FIGS. 10 through 13 can be locked at a large number of relative angular positions of lid or cover 1 and neck 9", rather than only at one relative angular position. Otherwise the closing and sealingof the. container 4" are effectedin the same manner as the closing and sealing of the lid 1' of FIGS. 6 through 9, with the annular recess 16"forrning a tight seal with the mating edge 17" of neck 9". Breaking of the seal and release of the lid 1 is Ie'tfected in the same manner as is breaking of the seal and release of the lid 1 While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be'embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: V

1. A sealed container, which can be closed and sealed in a one-step operation, comprising, in combination, a container body having a filling opening defined by a substantially cylindrical wall formed with an external thread and witha projection spaced axially from said thread; a closure having a cylindrical wall formed with an internal thread engageable with said external: thread; and an annular n'm integral'with said closure and spaced axially from said internal thread, said rim being integrally united to said closure by frangible connection means and said rim being formedwith projection means engageable with said projection, said proiection and said projection means being configured to slip over each other during rotation of said closure in a closing direction with said threads interengaged to provideforfluid tight closing of said closure, and

to interlock upon reverse rotation of said closure to prevent opening movement of said closure until the opening torque exerted on said closure is sufficient to break said frangible connection means; said first-mentioned cylin- ,drical wall constituting areduced cross section filling neck of said container body; said second mentioned cylindrical wall constituting a skirt of said closure; the inner surface of'said skirt being formed with a frusto-conical surface portion; said neck being provided with a pour spout member including a pair of diametrically oppositely extending pour spouts each having an outer end bevelled to conform to said frusto-conical surface portion; whereby, as said closure is screwed inwardly along said neck, said bevelled ends of said pour spouts will have conforming sealing engagement with said frusto-conical surface portion.

2. A sealed container, as claimed in claim 1, in which said pour spout member includes an inwardly projecting annular portion communicating with each of said spouts and arranged to fit inside said neck, said annular portion being formed with an annular rib and said neck being formed with an annular groove, said pour spout member being initially inserted into said closure member and forced into said neck by screwing inwardly of said closure member along said neck for snap inter-engagement of said rib and said groove to lock said pour spout member to said neck; said pour spout member having a radially 6 projecting flange sealingly engageable with the outer end of said neck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,393 6/1933 Jones 21579 2,134,178 10/1938 Esposito 21542 3,249,247 5/1966 Babiol 215-42 2,043,226 6/ 1936 Beider et a1 215-42 2,099,097 11/ 1937 Beider et a1 215--42 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,015,825 8/1952 France.

847,332 9/1960 Great Britain.

559,531 3/1957 Italy.

646,323 9/1962 Italy.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

